Wales' World Cup hopes suffered a major blow after a yellow card for Gareth Bale and a red card for Neil Taylor in a disastrous two-minute spell against Republic of Ireland.

Bale picked up his second yellow card of the qualifying campaign after lunging in on John O'Shea as he attempted to meet a cross from Chris Gunter, meaning he is now suspended for June's crunch trip to Serbia.

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Tournament rules dictate any player who picks up two cards in the qualifying stages is banned for one match.

And Bale will be joined on the sidelines by defender Taylor who was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Seamus Coleman that left the Everton player with a suspected broken leg.

Coleman received lengthy treatment before leaving the field on a stretcher as he was given pain-killing gas.

Neil Taylor is red-carded (Image: PA)

Wales were drawing 0-0 when the incidents happened in the 69th and 70th minutes in a match they had dominated despite being unable to create many clear cut chances.

Despite being a man down for the final stages they managed to hold out to secure a point that leaves them four points behind both the Irish and Serbia at the halfway stage of the group